Ann-Margret facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret in the 1960s
Born	Ann-Margret Olsson (1941-04-28) April 28, 1941 (age 84) Valsjöbyn, Jämtland County, Sweden
Occupation	Actress singer dancer
Years active	1961–present
Spouse(s)	Roger Smith ​ ​ (m. 1967; died 2017)​

Ann-Margret Olsson (born April 28, 1941), known professionally as Ann-Margret, is a famous Swedish-American actress and singer. Her career has lasted for over seventy years! She first became known in 1961 as a singer with a strong, clear voice. Soon after, she became a big star in Hollywood movies.

She has been in many popular films, including Bye Bye Birdie (1963), Viva Las Vegas (1964), Tommy (1975), and Grumpy Old Men (1993).

Ann-Margret has won many awards, such as five Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. She has also been nominated for two Academy Awards and two Grammys. In April 2023, she released her first classic-rock album, called Born to be Wild.

Ann-Margret's Early Life

Ann-Margret Olsson was born on April 28, 1941, in Valsjöbyn, Krokom Municipality, Jämtland County, Sweden. Her parents were Anna Regina and Carl Gustav Olsson. She described her hometown as a small place with "lumberjacks and farmers" located close to the Arctic Circle. Her father had lived in the United States before, and after Ann-Margret was born, he wanted to move there again with his family.

After World War II, her father moved to the U.S. alone. Her mother and Ann-Margret joined him in 1946. In 1949, Ann-Margret officially became an American citizen.

How Did She Start Dancing?

Ann-Margret began taking dance lessons at the Marjorie Young School of Dance. She was a natural dancer and could easily copy all the steps. Her parents were very supportive. Her mother even made all her dance costumes by hand! To help the family, Ann-Margret's mother worked as a receptionist at a funeral home after her husband was hurt at his job.

As a teenager, Ann-Margret appeared on several TV and radio shows for new talents, like the Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour and Ted Mack's Amateur Hour. She continued to perform in theater while attending New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.

She was part of a music group called the Suttletones. They performed at the Dunes hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Famous entertainer George Burns heard about her performance. He asked her to audition for his holiday show, where they performed a softshoe dance together. A magazine called Variety wrote that George Burns had found a "gold mine" in Ann-Margret, saying she had a unique style that would make her a star.

Her Family Life

Ann-Margret became the stepmother to her husband Roger Smith's three children. Roger Smith was an actor who later became her manager. They were married for 50 years, from May 8, 1967, until his death on June 4, 2017. She was also romantically linked to Elvis Presley when they worked together on the film Viva Las Vegas in 1964.

Ann-Margret loves motorcycles. She even used a Triumph T100C Tiger motorcycle in her stage shows and TV specials. She was featured in Triumph Motorcycles' advertisements in the 1960s. In 2000, she had an accident in rural Minnesota where she was thrown off a motorcycle. She broke three ribs and a shoulder.

In a 2012 interview, Ann-Margret spoke about her faith. She said that her belief in God and Jesus Christ was very important to her. She explained that seeing nature and her loved ones made her think about who created everything. She also said she couldn't go on if she didn't believe she would see her parents again.

On May 14, 2022, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas gave her an honorary doctoral degree for her contributions to humane letters.

Ann-Margret's Career

Music Career

Ann-Margret in a 1960s publicity photo

Ann-Margret started recording music for RCA Victor in 1961. Her first song was "Lost Love." Her first album, And Here She Is ... Ann-Margret, was recorded in Hollywood. Later albums were made in Nashville with famous musicians like Chet Atkins and the Jordanaires (who were Elvis Presley's backup singers).

She had a deep, strong singing voice. RCA Victor tried to make her sound like a "female Elvis" by having her record songs similar to his, like "Heartbreak Hotel." She had a small hit with "I Just Don't Understand" in August 1961, which reached number 17 on the Billboard Top 40 chart. The Beatles later performed this song in 1963. In 1962, Ann-Margret was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

Her only album to make it onto the music charts was Beauty and the Beard (1964), which she recorded with trumpeter Al Hirt. Other important moments in her music career included appearing on The Jack Benny Program in 1961. She also sang the theme song for the movie Bachelor in Paradise at the 34th Academy Awards in 1962. Her contract with RCA Victor ended in 1966. In 1963, Life Magazine reported that she had sold over half a million records.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she had some hits on the dance music charts. Her most successful dance song was "Love Rush" in 1979, which reached number eight on the disco/dance charts. In 2001, she recorded a gospel album called God Is Love: The Gospel Sessions with Art Greenhaw. This album earned her another Grammy nomination and a Dove Award nomination for gospel album of the year. She also recorded Ann-Margret's Christmas Carol Collection in 2004. In 2011, she released "God is Love: The Gospel Sessions 2."

In 2023, she went back to the studio to record a new album for Cleopatra Records. The album, "Born to Be Wild", features 13 cover songs, including "Splish Splash" and "Earth Angel." It also includes a new version of "Teach Me Tonight" with Pat Boone. Other guest performers on the album included Pete Townshend and The Oak Ridge Boys. The album was released on April 14, 2023.

Becoming a Hollywood Star (1961–1964)

Ann-Margret in a publicity photo from the 1960s

In 1961, Ann-Margret did a screen test for 20th Century Fox and signed a seven-year contract. Her first movie role was in Frank Capra's Pocketful of Miracles with Bette Davis. For this role, Ann-Margret won her first Golden Globe, for New Actress of the Year.

Next, she starred in a 1962 remake of the musical State Fair. In this film, she played the "bad girl" Emily alongside Bobby Darin and Pat Boone.

Her role as the American teenager Kim in Bye Bye Birdie (1963) made her a huge star. The movie's premiere at Radio City Music Hall earned the most money for a first week at that theater up to that time. Life magazine featured her on its cover for the second time. Her performance in Bye Bye Birdie earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

She was also asked to sing "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" at President John F. Kennedy's private birthday party. A few months later, Ann-Margret voiced an animated version of herself, named "Ann-Margrock," on the TV show The Flintstones. She sang a lullaby called "The Littlest Lamb" and a rock song called "Ain't Gonna Be a Fool."

Ann-Margret met Elvis Presley on the MGM movie set while they were filming Viva Las Vegas (1964). Many people felt that she had so much energy that she outshone her previous co-stars, but Elvis could match her. Some say he was her best on-screen partner. She recorded three duets with Presley for the movie, but only "The Lady Loves Me" was included in the final film. None of their duets were released commercially until years after Presley's death.

Later Career and Acclaim (1970s)

Ann-Margret performing at a state dinner honoring the Shah of Iran in 1975

In 1970, Ann-Margret returned to films with R. P. M., starring with Anthony Quinn, and C.C. and Company with football star Joe Namath.

In 1971, she starred in Carnal Knowledge, directed by Mike Nichols. She played the girlfriend of a difficult character played by Jack Nicholson. For this role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.

In June 1972, while filming The Train Robbers in Mexico, she mentioned that she had lost weight by following a "grapefruit diet."

On September 10, 1972, while performing in Lake Tahoe, Ann-Margret fell 22 feet from a raised platform onto the stage. She suffered serious injuries, including a broken left arm, cheekbone, and jawbone. She needed detailed facial reconstructive surgery, which meant her mouth had to be wired shut, and she could only have liquid food. She couldn't work for ten weeks but returned to the stage almost fully recovered.

Throughout the 1970s, Ann-Margret continued to perform live music and took on serious film roles that were different from her glamorous image. In 1973, she starred with John Wayne in The Train Robbers. Then came the musical Tommy in 1975, for which she received her second Oscar nomination, this time for Best Actress. She also won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for Tommy.

On August 17, 1977, Ann-Margret and Roger Smith attended Elvis Presley's funeral in Memphis. Three months later, she hosted a TV special called Memories of Elvis.

Other notable films she appeared in during the late 1970s include Joseph Andrews (1977), The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977), and the thriller Magic (1978) with Anthony Hopkins. She also had a small role in The Cheap Detective (1978).

Ann-Margret was considered for the role of Sandy in the 1978 film Grease. However, at 36 years old, she was thought to be too old to play a high school student. The role went to 28-year-old Olivia Newton-John, and the character's name was changed to "Sandy Olsson" in honor of Ann-Margret's birth name.

For her contributions to movies, Ann-Margret received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1973. Her star is located at 6501 Hollywood Boulevard.

Television and Film Roles (1980s–Present)

Ann-Margret in 1988

In 1980, Ann-Margret starred with Bruce Dern in Middle Age Crazy. In 1982, she appeared with Walter Matthau in the film I Ought to Be in Pictures. That same year, she also co-starred in Lookin' to Get Out, where she played the mother of a five-year-old Angelina Jolie in Jolie's first movie role. Also in 1982, she appeared in The Return of the Soldier. She also starred in TV movies like Who Will Love My Children? (1983) and a remake of A Streetcar Named Desire (1984), winning Golden Globe Awards for both.

After Barbara Stanwyck won an Emmy in 1983 for The Thorn Birds, she praised Ann-Margret's performance in Who Will Love My Children?, calling it "one of the finest, most beautiful performances I have ever seen."

In Twice in a Lifetime (1985), Ann-Margret played a waitress. The next year, she was in the crime thriller 52 Pick-Up. In 1987, she co-starred in the NBC series "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles", which earned her another Emmy nomination.

In 1989, an illustration of Oprah Winfrey on the cover of TV Guide used Ann-Margret's body from an old publicity photo. The drawing was so realistic that many people thought it was a combined photograph.

Recent Roles

In 1991, she starred in the TV film Our Sons with Julie Andrews. In 1992, she co-starred with Robert Duvall and Christian Bale in the Disney musical Newsies. In 1993, Ann-Margret starred in the hit comedy Grumpy Old Men, reuniting with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. She returned for the sequel, Grumpier Old Men (1995), which also starred Sophia Loren.

Ann-Margret published her autobiography, Ann-Margret: My Story, in 1994. She also played Belle Watling in Scarlett (1994), a TV miniseries based on the book that continued the story of Gone with the Wind.

She also filmed Any Given Sunday (1999) for director Oliver Stone, playing the mother of a football team owner. She had a small role in The Limey, but her scene was cut from the final movie.

Ann-Margret also starred in several TV films, including Queen: The Story of an American Family (1993), Following Her Heart (1994), and Life of the Party (1999). For Life of the Party, she received nominations for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In 2000, she recorded a new version of the Viva Las Vegas theme song for the movie The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.

She made guest appearances on the TV show Touched by an Angel in 2000 and three episodes of Third Watch in 2003. She played Jimmy Fallon's mother in the 2004 comedy Taxi, which also starred Queen Latifah. In 2001, Ann-Margret worked with Art Greenhaw on the album God Is Love: The Gospel Sessions. This project earned her a second Grammy nomination. They worked together again in 2004 for Ann-Margret's Christmas Carol Collection. She performed songs from this album at the Crystal Cathedral, which was broadcast worldwide.

In November 2005, Ann-Margret reunited with Chuck Day and Mickey Jones for a special performance for veterans and troops at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

In 2006, Ann-Margret had supporting roles in the movies The Break-Up with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, and The Santa Clause 3 with Tim Allen. She also appeared in independent films like Memory (2006). In 2009, she was in the comedy Old Dogs with John Travolta and Robin Williams.

Ann-Margret guest-starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, called "Bedtime", which aired on March 31, 2010. She received her sixth Emmy nomination for this role. She also appeared in the Lifetime series Army Wives in May 2010. On August 29, 2010, she won her first Emmy Award for her performance in SVU. The audience gave her a standing ovation.

On October 14, 2010, Ann-Margret appeared on CBS' CSI.

In late 2011, she performed a series of concerts with Andy Williams at his Moon River Theater in Branson, Missouri. These were Williams' last performances before he passed away in 2012.

In 2014, she began a recurring role in the Showtime series Ray Donovan. In 2018, it was announced that she joined the second season of the Syfy series Happy! in a recurring role.

In 2018, she guest-starred in The Kominsky Method, playing Diane, a widow who might become a love interest for Norman, played by Alan Arkin.

On November 28, 2023, she was a guest narrator for Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World.

Portrayals of Ann-Margret

The 2005 CBS miniseries Elvis tells the story of her relationship with Elvis Presley during the filming of Viva Las Vegas. She was played by actress Rose McGowan. Ann-Margret also provided the voice for a cartoon version of herself, "Ann-Margrock," in The Flintstones episode "Ann-Margrock Presents" in 1963.

Selected Filmography

Film

Box-office Ranking

Ann-Margret was voted as one of the most popular actors in the United States by movie exhibitors for two years:

• 1964 – 8th most popular
• 1965 – 17th most popular

Television

Discography

Singles

Selected Albums

• And Here She Is ... Ann-Margret (1961)
• On the Way Up (1962)
• The Vivacious One (1962)
• Bachelors' Paradise (1963)
• 3 Great Girls - with Della Reese and Kitty Kallen (1963) - four songs
• Beauty and the Beard (1964) (with Al Hirt)
• David Merrick Presents Hits from His Broadway Hits (1964) (with David Merrick) - four songs
• The Cowboy and the Lady (1969) (with Lee Hazlewood)
• Ann-Margret (1980)
• God Is Love: The Gospel Sessions (2001)
• Ann-Margret's Christmas Carol Collection (2004)
• God Is Love: The Gospel Sessions 2 (2011)
• Born to Be Wild (2023)

Soundtrack Appearances

• State Fair (1962)
• Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
• The Pleasure Seekers (1965)
• Rebus (1969)
• C.C. & Company (1970)
• Dames at Sea (1971)
• Tommy (1975)
• Newsies (1992)
• The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000)
• The Best Little ... in Texas (2001)
• Viva Las Vegas (LP reissue of Viva Las Vegas EP) (2007) (with Elvis Presley)
• Going in Style (2017)

Theatre Productions

• Love Letters, with Burt Reynolds
• The Best Little ... in Texas (2001, touring production)

Awards and Nominations

See Also

In Spanish: Ann-Margret para niños

Images for kids

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  Ann-Margret performing for U.S. service personnel in Vietnam in 1966